Iraqi women demand rights in country's new constitution

[ECH1969]

BAGHDAD -- Women from different Iraqi rights groups met here on Monday to issue a list of demands that they believe would guarantee women's rights in the country's new constitution.

The informal group issued a statement demanding that Islamic law, or Sharia, not be one of the sources of the constitution; that Iraq should abide by all international rights treaties and that all Iraqi men and women have equal legal rights.

It also called for female representation "in the three branches of government and in other decision-making positions be no less than 25 percent".

If Islam is mentioned in the constitution, as many in the conservative Shia majority want, it should be referred to as 'a source' of legislation, not 'the source', participants said.

http://www.metimes.com/articles/normal.php?StoryID=20050802-065107-4506r

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

1. Maybe American women should listen too

Instead of us watching our rights stripped away in this country.

[louis-t]

2. This should be very interesting to watch

Let's see who the fundie/neocon/wingnut contingent sides with and why. Bound to be some heads exploding over this.

[Broken_Hero]

3. I hope it works out for them

but i'm a pessimist by nature. I hope it works out, but i wouldn' bet anything on it. But good luck ladies, you got my support.

[barb162]

4. This is such a critical issue

I hope these women succeed. If they don't succeed, they might as well leave the country

[rodeodance]

8. yes, critical issue--and I do wish them well.

[newswolf56]

5. I believe Bush's underlying intent is imposition of theocracy...

on Iraq. I believe that's the reason behind all his alleged "blunders" and even the invasion itself -- part of the Grover Norquist plan for building theocracy here in the U.S. -- this via an alliance of Muslims and Fundamentalist Christians based on mutual hatreds of women, gays, liberty etc. Thus I expect women's rights in Iraq to be eliminated (just as they will be here if Bush and his Christofascist followers continue with their unbroken record of victories).

[gratuitous]

6. There isn't an equal rights amendment in the US Constitution

Damn uppity, them Iraqi wimmen. I wonder if George W. or Pickles will help out these women, or just let them go back to the chador whence to love their new-found freedom?

[newswolf56]

7. Precisely why the ERA was so absolutely vital -- specifically...

to protect American women (and if I remember it correctly, sexual minorities too) from the likes of der Bushler and his Christofascist storm troopers. (Wasn't it Reagan who mobilized the forces that finally killed ERA? Precisely as if he {or more likely his puppetmasters} were already looking ahead to a full-blown effort to impose theocracy on America.)

At least one international source I've read -- sorry I don't remember the specifics and so can't provide a link, but I believe the publication was Asia Times -- has reported the shift toward Sharia in the Iraqi constitution is being very deliberately manipulated by the U.S., which, behind the scenes, clearly favors the Muslim Fundamentalists. (Another reason I believe Bush's "blunders" -- all of which strengthen the Muslim Fundamentalists -- are in fact deiberate expressions of policy.)

[lumpy]

9. Iraqi women are not uneducated

about women's rights. I hope they are successful in their campaign to regain the rights they had before the Shiites got into power. It's baffling that the US invaders led by Commander-in -chief Geo.W.Bush can't command what is to be set forth in the Iraqi constitution. If the Democracy Designer is to accomplish democracy and freedom in Iraq he is doing a half-ass job in neglecting to take care of the tenets of the Iraq constitution that will guarantee democracy for all in that country. Applauding and encouraging the Shiites takeover indicates that Bush wants ongoing US occupation of Iraq. Oil, doncha' know, at a huge price.

[barb162]

10. This whole subject drives me up the wall.

Once the Iraqis voted, then it is the will of the people, nobody should mess with it. The sharia stuff is going to figuratively kill these women but we shouldn't say anything about it because the ballot box has already played out by their voting a few months ago. If Bush interferes then he is saying their voting means nothing. It is a real dilemma. I thought right away before the voting took place that sharia would end up in that constitution because of the conservative nature of the largest group there.

[ninkasi]

11. Perhaps it will help

if the victims of "honor" killings, which will surely become commonplace once Sharia law is in full effect, are buried with their fingers stained purple.

They could vote then, and Smirk smirked about it, but they will end up having far fewer rights than before the idiot started this illegal war. He pollutes everything he touches, and delights in destroying people and things.